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| Parting shots on Gil |
Well, I am surprised. The first day of press response to firing of Gil was not that bad. Just the facts (mostly). But by the second day, reporting went to hell. Every idiot with a typewriter or computer (myself included) had to put their two cents in, and most opinions weren't worth even that.
As usual some places reported the News -- but when the News ran out, or they felt they had to "add value" [they improvised]. The San Francisco Gate (San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner) did their usual amazingly bad job with crap pieces like - Setbacks and huge losses finished Amelio written by Swatz, who seems to have his name on every bad piece by them. This is what I am getting used to seeing in the press, idiots with a spin and the usual misrepresenting of facts like --
On Monday, Apple abruptly canceled a meeting scheduled for Tuesday to discuss its long-term strategy with the California Public Employees Retirement System. CalPERS, which owns about 0.6 percent of Apple's stock, has been a vocal critic of the company. The meeting, originally scheduled for April, had been canceled once before.
True, but it was canceled once before by CalPERS (not by Apple). Just a little bit of a misrepresentation, and irrelevant to Apple's laying off of Gil or Apple in general. It reads (intentionally) like Apple has been blowing CalPERS off. Of course the reason Apple canceled this meeting was because they had just fired their CEO and didn't want to piss CalPERS off by not telling them, or firing the guy they talked to a couple days after the meeting. The Gate would have crucified them for that as well. Spin mixed with misinformation <sigh>.
Other garbage gets mixed in like -
At the same time, lavish executive offices were being built while the company's losses for the past year passed the $1.6 billion mark.
Sort of. Apple closed down their expensive executive offices elsewhere, and continued to consolidate and move Everyone on campus. But to do that required an upgrade to the offices. Last I checked the executive offices must be plush or you give the impression that the company is "just barely hanging on". It's called image, and is necessary. Ignoring this kind of information shows how bias the media is, in all the little ways. This is just one example among thousands, and none of their "added value" seems the slightest bit relevant to the topic.
At least the Gate was on topic, overall. Others went much further off topic -- Jesse Berst, Editorial Director of ZDNET (the bias comes from the top). She goes off and supports Dave Winers idiotic comments on Apple as brilliantly insightful (as did some others). Then spun it as if Dave Winer is some pro-Mac person that is giving up on Apple because of this latest stuff! Gads! Dave Winer has been an Apple basher for 5+ years now, ever since Apple decided to make AppleScript (like they said they were going to) instead of leaving an absolutely critical MacOS technology up to the whims of his company (and Frontier Scripting).
Dave's Plan? Stop investing in needed technologies like Rhapsody and Mac OS, and instead give away all your R&D money to small start-ups (like his was) to see what they might come up with to save your company. You can read his lunacy at Winers Whinings.
The lists go on and on and on. Basically most articles get way off track, few report the news, most want to further their own agenda's or sensationalize every minor thing into some great attention getting (money making) story. The facts aren't interesting enough, so they create their own stories. Their offal is not news to me!
ENOUGH WITH THE GARBAGE!
Let's be real here. I am saddened by the layoff (a little) -- but the action of firing Gil will probably not make much of a difference in the lives of Apple or Mac Users! What do I care? Honestly?! Companies I've been at have changed management (from the top) literally dozens of times. Other than their high and mighty plans, that seldom come to fruition, it almost NEVER effects me or the users -- especially short term. (It matters on some longer term company trends, but other than layoffs, it does little). Apple is bigger than most of the companies I've been at, and so the change effects users even LESS! Plus the Mac is an industry of many companies. So one company (even the lead company) has less impact than whole industry that people realize.
So the press is making all this stuff sound dire and immediate. "Oh my Gosh, Apple is in a panic NOW!". But they are just sensationalizing stuff to get attention and make money. That is what they do. If you buy into all that, then you are the pigeon.
- Apple is still an $8 Billion company and the Mac industry is growing despite the presses FUD. Imagine when the FUD stops.
- Apple has been mismanaged since day 1 -- and yet they have still come out with great products, and it hardly effects me at all!
- Apple is not the only mismanaged company out there. Most are. Lets dissect Microsoft and look at the management style of its leaders (screaming tyrants and insecure geeks come to mind). Microsoft has done well out of luck and hype more than good management. (Well at least MS has follow though, and their board isn't yanking CEO's every other year!)
- Things could be better -- but realistically, life will go on and Apple will make good products. When Apple gets good management in, it helps a little -- when they get worse management in, it hurts a little. But that is more drama than anything else. With clone makers making Macs as well, this matters even less!
- If Apple makes bad products, I'll buy someone elses Mac Clones. If Apple really starts screwing up -- they will be bought by someone else, or change management again, and they will STILL make Macs and the MacOS and Rhapsody.
- The Mac is still as superior a platform as it was last week, and it will be better next week (Mac OS 8), and better soon after (Mac OS 8.1), and so on, and so on.
It is time for us to ignore the presses flatulations as the pathetic cries for attention that they are. Casually note the events that go on at Cupertino 90210, laugh a little, cry a little, and then lets get on with our lives!
Sure the press is single-handedly trying to destroy consumer confidence (yet again), with misinformation and sensationalism (yet again), and to predict Apple's eminent demise (as they have since '81). That's News and sells papers. But don't forget that as stupid as much of the press is, there are some good articles out there as well! Every year that I buy Macs, and the Macs get better, it shows how out of touch the Mac-haters in the press really are. Don't buy into the FUD! Buy the product does the job best for YOU! 95% of the time, that will be the Mac.
7/12/97
Other Articles -- This collection of other articles (links) was stolen (borrowed with permission) for archival purposes from Apple Surf / Apple A Day (a great resource for News and information). Remember that many links are only valid for a certain amount of time. I appreciate any reporting of dead-links.
| Business |
�Apple Stock Up On Buyout Rumors (News.Com)
�Apple Shares Rise On Renewed Takeover Speculation (Bloomberg News)
�Amelio: 'I Know That I've Rescued This Company' (San Jose Mercury News)
�Transcript Of Gil Amelio's Interview With The Mercury News (San Jose Mercury News)
�Hancock Speaks (MacWEEK)
�Looking For A Job? Apple Has A Mighty Big Opening (San Jose Mercury News)
�Topic A For Apple: Who'll Take Reins? (San Francisco Examiner)
�Contemplating The Apple Short List (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Insiders Say Apple Not Worth It: Stubbornness Resulted In Microsoft Dominance (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Analysts Offer Top 10 List To Get Apple Back On Track (MacWEEK)
�Mac OS Licensees Unfazed By Departure Of Apple CEO Amelio (MacWEEK)
�The Disastrous Final Weeks Of Apple CEO String Of Setbacks, Huge Losses Finished Amelio (San Francisco Chrnoicle)
�Diminished Range, But Mac Still A World Beta (AFR)
�Apple Board Is At Core Of Troubles: Ineffective Directors Picked A Costly CEO (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Jobs' Role At Apple: To Cement Partnerships (Computer Reseller News)
�Apple After Amelio (San Jose Mercury News)
�Apple's Durable Asset: Loyal Mac Customers (Washington Post)
�Microsoft Still Committed To Mac (Reuters)
�'Litany Of Misdeeds' Led To Amelio Ouster (San Francisco Chrnoicle)
| Operating System |
| Software |
| Microsoft |
| Opinion |
�Mac-Qualung For CEO! (MacWEEK Opinion by Mac The Knife)
�Apple Still Scrapping, Thanks To Amelio (Chicago Sun-Times Opinion by Don Crabb)
�The Only Way To Save Apple (AnchorDesk Opinion by Jesse Berst)
�The Recipe For ScrApple (ZDNN Opinion by Mitch Ratcliffe): "I don't see anyone at Apple who is prepared to admit that all that's left is scraps."
�Coop Takes On The mac Mujahadeen (ZDNN Opinon by Charles Cooper)
�New Research Report Measures Mac Advantage In Dollar And Sense (MacWEEK Opinion by Henry Norr): "Mac-using creative professionals produce $26,441 more in annul revenue and $14,488 more in net profit for their employers than Windows users of comparable skill engaged in similar work."
| Amelio Quits |
| The Annoucement |
�Gil Amelio Letter To Apple's Employee (MacInTouch Reader Reports)
�Amelio Addresses Apple (MacWEEK)
�Letter From Apple's New Executive Management Team To Apple Employees (News.Com)
�Listen To The Apple Press Conference (ZDNN Real Audio)
| The Media |
�Amelio Is Out! Apple CEO Ousted After Year And A Half (Macworld)
�Amelio, Hancock Resign (MacWEEK)
�Apple To Look Outside Company For Amelio Replacement (ZDNN)
�Apple Says Gil Amelio Resigns (San Jose Mercury News)
�Amelio, Hancock Exit Apple (Wired News)
�Apple's Amelio, Hancock Call It Quits (TechInvestor)
�Amelio Resigns As Apple's CEO (MSNBC)
�Apple Chief Steps Down, Board Unhappy With Financials (InfoWorld)
�Amelio Resigns As Apple CEO (Bloomberg)
�Apple CEO Ousted (Associated Press)
�Apple Shake-Up: Amelio Resigns (San Francisco Examiner)
�A Look At Who's Leaving, Who's Staying At Apple Computer (Associated Press)
| The Aftermath |
�Observers Respond To Apple Exec Shuffle (MacWEEK)
�Microsoft Vows To Keep Supporting Apple Customers (Reuters)
�Live Interviews, Analysis (CNET Radio)
�Apple Transition May Hurt Stock (News.Com)
�Another Tricky Day For Apple (Wired News)
�Analysts React To Amelio's Departure (Computer Resller News)
�Office Gossip Points At Jobs As Mastermind Of A Coup (San Jose Mercury News)
�Life Goes On: Apple Employees Take Latest Changes In Stride (San Jose Mercury News)
�Before the Bell: Apple Down, Compaq Seen Off (Retuers)
�Has Jobs Seized The Day? (News.Com)
�Amelio's Departure Is An Opportunity (News.Com)
�Amelio's Resignation Leads To User Confusion Worldwide (InfoWorld)
�Wrap-Up: Amelio, Hancock Out; Apple's Prospects Dim (ZDNN)
�Apple Partners, Users Look Ahead (TechWire)
�Apple On The Brink After Latest Ouster (Bloomberg)
�Analysts Offer Top 10 List To Get Apple Back On Track (MacWEEK)
�Mac OS Licensees Unfazed By Departure Of Apple CEO Amelio (MacWEEK)
�The Disastrous Final Weeks Of Apple CEO String Of Setbacks, Huge Losses Finished Amelio (San Francisco Chrnoicle)
�Insiders Say Apple Not Worth It: Stubbornness Resulted In Microsoft Dominance (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Apple's Durable Asset: Loyal Mac Customers (Washington Post)
�Apple Stock Up On Buyout Rumors (News.Com)
�Apple Shares Rise On Renewed Takeover Speculation (Bloomberg News)
| The Man |
�Board Member's Inside Story On Amelio (News.Com)
�Amelio Could Walk With $10 Million (TechWire)
�Amelio's Golden Handshake (News.Com)
�Don't Cry For Gil Amelio (ZDNN)
�Amelio: No Hugs, Just Hisses (News.Com)
�Amelio: 'I Know That I've Rescued This Company' (San Jose Mercury News)
�Transcript Of Gil Amelio's Interview With The Mercury News (San Jose Mercury News)
�Apple Board Is At Core Of Troubles: Ineffective Directors Picked A Costly CEO (San Francisco Chronicle)
�'Litany Of Misdeeds' Led To Amelio Ouster (San Francisco Chrnoicle)
| The Job |
�Who'd Want The Job Now? (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Apple's New CEO Must Prepare For The Worst - Analysts (Reuters)
�Apple Board Member Says Jobs Doesn't Want CEO Job -- CNBC (Retuers)
�A Tricky Game: The Apple CEO Search (News.Com)
�Hancock Speaks (MacWEEK)
�Looking For A Job? Apple Has A Mighty Big Opening (San Jose Mercury News)
�Contemplating The Apple Short List (San Francisco Chronicle)
�Topic A For Apple: Who'll Take Reins? (San Francisco Examiner)
�Jobs' Role At Apple: To Cement Partnerships (Computer Reseller News)
�Apple After Amelio (San Jose Mercury News)
| The Opinions |
�Apple Erosion May Not Change (News.Com Opinion by Jim Davis)
�Ding Dong, Gil Is Gone (MacAddict Opinion by Cheryl England)
�Who Should Lead Apple, And Where? (MacAddict Opinion by Kathy Tafel)
�Amelio Gets The Heave-Ho (Back The Mac! Opinion by Spartacus)
�Guillotine Gill Got Gilled (MacKiDo Temple Opinion by David Every)
�The Honorable Crabb's Thoughts (MacInsider)
�Analysts: Next CEO Must Reinvent Apple As A Smaller Company (ZDNN Opinion by Maria Seminerio)
�Amelio's Gone, But Does It Matter? (San Jose Mercury News Opinion by Dan Gillmor)
�Now's The Time To Split Apple Up (Borderline Zealot Opinion)
�"The Rest Of The Story" (MacWEEK Opinion by Don Crabb)
�So What If Amelio File Is Closed? Apple Can Reboot (Los Angeles Times Opinion by Charles Piller)
�Apple After Gil (Upside.Com Opinion by David Coursey)
�Mac-Qualung For CEO! (MacWEEK Opinion by Mac The Knife)
�Apple Still Scrapping, Thanks To Amelio (Chicago Sun-Times Opinion by Don Crabb)
�Re: Don Crabb's Story Of Gil (MacKiDo Temple Opinion by David Every)
�The Only Way To Save Apple (AnchorDesk Opinion by Jesse Berst)
�The Recipe For ScrApple (ZDNN Opinion by Mitch Ratcliffe)
| The Poll |
�Hershey Apple Core Polls (Hershey)
| The History |
�Apple, From Garage Days Through The Amelio Era (Wired News)
�Key Events In Apple's History (Reuters)
�Apple Upgrades From CEO v 4.0 (TechWire)
|
